Clamp



May 21, 1935. w. c. DUMKE CLAMP Filed Dec. 15, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l W. C. DUMKE May 21, 1935.

CLAMP Filed Dec. 15, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ZTYEZW IF Mm. & flmc e Patentecl May 21, 1935 l CLAMP I -Willi am C. Dumke, Chicago, Application December 15, 1933, Serial No. 702,628

' My invention relates to clamps for articles such as garden hose, automobile radiator com nection hose,1 cotton bales, bundles and other articles which are secured by encircling bands,

" and my main object is to provide a band type of clamp which performs its function effieiently.

A further object of the invention is to provide aclamp of the above type which applies equalized pressure to the hose or other article encir cled, this feature being. of particular importance for hose in order to secure a tight or leak-proof closure.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a clamp which is constructed of few parts which are of a simple and rugged. nature, whereby to render the clamp durable. u 1

.Another object ofthe invention is to so design the novel clamp that it may be applied or removed with facility and has no delicate parts or mechanisms to get out of order.

An additional object of the invention is to construct the novel clamp with means to make it adjustable to any sizeof article, to be, encircled, and withiother means to lock the clamp in a position corresponding with the required size. 7

An important object ofv the:.iIiventi-onis to construct the novel clamp by means and meth-' ods involving established principles of mechanics whereby to render the manufacture of the clamp inexpensive. j i W p i With the above objects in view and anyothers that may suggest themselves from the specificae tionand claims to follow, a better understanding of the invention may be had by referenceto the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is an elevation of one form of the novel clamp; 1

.Fig; 2 is a plan view; p v 'Figs. 3 and 4 are perspective. views of a shoe and a retainer forming parts of the novel clamp; Figs. 5 to.8 are views similar to Figs. '1 to 4 of amodification; i

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of ajreinforcing strap employed in both forms of the clamp;

Figs; 10 to 14 are plan views of a strap, partly broken away, which .is employed to form the band in the novel clamp, each of theviews illustrating modified details in the formation of the strap; I r i 1' .v Fig. 15 is a section on the line I5l5of Fig. 10, the screw being shown in elevation; and

Fig. 16 is a section on the line It-IB ofv Fig. 11, the screw being shown in elevation. j

Clamps of the type under consideration have.

been produced and marketed in various forms and sizes, but in many cases lack of efficiency has been due to improper construction of the clamp. Thus, some clamps have not exerted even pressureand therefore caused bulging in hose con.- nections and consequent leaks where the cong nection was intended as a, closure. In other cases, the area engaged was insuficient; causing cutting of the material clamped, while instill other cases the clamp was bunglesome or awkward to handle oradjust. In designing the novel clamp, I have departed from these defects and provided .a. clamp which accomplishes the above stated objects to their fullest extent.

In carrying out the invention, the. preferred 7 form of the clamp is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4,

featuring principally a metallic strap whichis looped to'form a band 20. One end of the strap is given an outward bend 200 which terminates with a doubled section 202). Over the doubled bend so formed,is placed an arched strap 2i, the same having an outer foot 2 la extended upon the band 20 and an inner footZlb projected freely and slightly tapered from the sides as indicated at Me. The, post formed by the combination bend 20b and the arched} strap 2| is transversely perforated to permit the free passage of a screw 22, whose head'is in the region of the arched foot As noted in Fig. 1, the free end of the band'20 overlaps. the opposite end along the inside to a considerable extent, this feature reinforcing the bandto maintain the circle-formed along the clamping region, and so to completely encircle the article clamped. The free section of the band is intended to be guided and anchored in a shoe which is clearly shown in "Fig. 3; and the inner edge of the section extremity is chamfered as indicated'at m, to make the band smooth on the insider i V The shoe just referred to is formed with a slightly archedbase 23, sides 23a rising from the latter and meeting at one end of the shoe with a common transverse portion 23b, the bottom of which is separated from the base 23 by forming the sides 23a with wedged shaped openings 23c adjacent to the-base. The corners between the shoe base and sides are slotted as indicated at 231, in order to permit the flexing of the shoe base to the required curvature more easily. 'The free section of the. band 20 isvadapted to be passed through this opening as it is advanced whereby to rest in part. upon the base 23 of the shoe, as shown in Fig.'1. With the parts in this position,

tangular form 24 has a bottom wing extended in an outward direction.

the shank of the screw 22 rests in an opening 23d cut down into the section 231).

It is my intention to anchor the free portion of the band 20 in the shoe at such a place as corresponds to the approximate diameter of the band as related to the particular hose or other article to be encircled. Thus, the band is marked with a series of graduations, as clearly shown in Fig. 10, denoting a series of dimensions in the above respect, these being further represented by a series of notches 200, out in pairs along the edges of the band. The sides 23a of the shoe are formed with a pair of inward projections 23c of a size corresponding to the notches 200, so that upon the insertion of the free section of the band 26 by way of the opening 230 and with asufficient rise to clear the projections 236, the section may be lowered to seat upon the shoe base 23 as soon as the desired pair of notches 20c arrives opposite the projection 236. Thus, the free section of the band becomes anchored tothe shoe, and the band is of the proper initial diameter. 7 7

With the parts placed as'just describeda retainer 24 is applied in order to. prevent the separation of the band from the shoe and to hold the screw 22 to the latter. As shown in Fig. 4, this retainer is a plate of approximately recand having a central perforation 24a for the passage of the screw 22. The plate Me which underlies the section23b of the shoe just above the band 20 when the retaineris placed against such section. The retainer alsov has side flanges 24c overlying the sides 23a of the shoe, and a top wing 2411 When the clamp has been assembled in the manner describedabout the hose or other article about to be clamped, a nut 25 isapplied to the screw in order to procure the clamping action. The screw'is backed until the nut underlies the wing 24d of the retainer one of i-tsflat surfaces, as shown in- Fig. I. Now, the application of a screw-driver to the head of the screw makes it possible to draw upon the nut with the effect of pulling the free section of the band 29- about the article encircled.

It wi llbe seen that the bottom wing 24b of the retainer will prevent therise of the screw. 22' out of the shoe opening- 2301, that the side flanges 240 will prevent the rotaj tion of the retainer-from the turning influence of the screw, and that the top 24d will prevent the nut from rotating whilethe screw is driven. Also, the tendency for the band: to buckle inthe zone where it receives pressure from the projections. 23a is. counteracted bythebottom wing 24d. of the retainer.

It will be seen from the above description, that aclamp. having a simple mode of assembly, a sturdy. construction, and an easy method of ape. plication ishad. The assembly of the arch 2.1. ms a o g; a in r abutment; f r th screw, and the other parts; combine to exert a strong and even hold upon the free section of the band whereby to draw the same with uniform, inward pressure, and exercise an equalized clamping hold, upon the hose or other article engaged. Also, by means of the readings on the free section of the band, one is able to anchor the same to known sizes of the hose or other article without measuringoruncertainty.

The modification of Figs. to 8 entails an open construction inthe entrance of the shoe as.indi-. cated at 2-6. Inthis case, the nut 25. can be run ontothe screw as far as the retainer 21 will permit, and: the top wing; Ha: of the latter bentdown to keep the nut from turning and the screw from rising out of the shoe, the balance of the adjustment being the same as before. Dotted lines 28 in Fig. 7 indicate that the sides of the shoe may be made with two or more sets of anchoring elements for use with a strap formed as in Fig. 11, the notches 29 here shown being more frequent. Also, the face of the retainer 27 is formed with projections 21b in proximity to the sides of the retainer to act as guards against inward buckling tendencies by the shoe sides 26 from pressure as the clamp is drawn tight.

Figs. 10 and show a modification wherein a separate nut is dispensed with. In this case, the arched assembly 2| is tapped to receive the screw from the opposite end, the shoe applying as before, and the head of the screw bearing on the retainer.

Figs. 11 and 16 show a modification of the feature in Fig. 10. In this case, the arched assembly 2| freely receives the screw from the opposite side, instead of as in the said feature, and a nut is dispensed with. Instead, the retainer 2-1 is made with a tapped central boss 30 which receives the screw.

Fig. 12 shows how the strap for the band may be tapered to extend with an integral screw 32 as a substitute for the arched assembly 2! and the separate screw 22 in theform of Fig. l andso reduce the process and parts entering into the formation of the clamp. In this connection, Fig. 13 shows the feature of Fig. 12 wherein the strap is soldered or welded at 33 to a screw, simply as a matter of economy where these parts are more easily found and assembled instead of being made in a single piece. 1

Fig. 14 shows a variety of notch formations for the clamp strap and the anchoring formation, any set or combination of these being suitable as specifications may dictate.

It will be seen that I have provided a clamp which is simple, eificien-t and which may be applied and removed with ease by the average person. While I have shown and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be evident that the same is susceptible of various changes and refinements without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as covered in the appended claims.

I claim: I

1. A clamp comprising a band, a bearing at one end portion thereof, a screw directed through the bearing toward the other end: portion, a shoe receiving the other end portion of the band, means to anchor such other end portion to the shoe, a nut opposite the shoe and receiving the screw, the bearing comprising a doubled formation of the aifected end portion, an arched reinforcement fitted over the formation, the latter and the reinforcement being transversely perforated for the free passage of the screw shank, and foot portions extended; outwardly from the reinforcement and longitudinally of the band.

2-. A clamp comprising a band, a bearing at one end portion thereof, a screw'directed through the bearing toward the other end portion, a shoe, receiving the other end portion of the band, means to anchor such other end portion to the shoe, a nut opposite the shoe; and receiving; the screw, the band having the formation of a substantially circular loop, and said other end portion extending to overlapthe inner side of the first-mentionedend portion.

3. A clampcomprising a band, abearing at one end portionthereofi, a screw: directed through the screw, said other end bearing toward the other end portion,-a shoe receiving the other end portion of1theband,rn eans to anchor such other end portion to the shoe, a nut opposite the shoe and receiving the screw, the band having the formation of a substantially circular loop, and said other end portion extending to overlap the inner side of'thefirst-men tioned end portion and having its extremity chamfered along the inside" of the-loop to gradually meet said inner side of the first rnentioned end portion.

4. A clamp comprising a band,abearing at one end portion thereof, a screw directed through the bearing toward the other end portion,-a shoe re-" ceiving the other end portionof theband, means to anchor such other end portion to the shoe, a nut opposite the shoe and receiving the screw, said other end portion being formed with a series of recesses, and said anchoring means comprising projections from the shoe receiving said recesses.

5. A clamp comprising a band, a bearing at one end portion thereof, a screw directed through the bearing toward the other end portion, a shoe receiving the other end portion of the band, means to anchor such other end portion to the shoe, a

nut opposite the shoe and receiving the screw, said other end portion being formed with a series of recesses in its side edges, said shoe having upstanding sides, and said anchoring means comprising internal projections from the sides of the shoe receiving said recesses.

6. A clamp comprising a band, a bearing at one end portion thereof, a screw directed through the bearing toward the other end portion, a shoe receiving the other end portion of the band, means to anchor such other end portion to the shoe, a nut opposite the shoe and receiving the portion being formed with a series of recesses in its side edges, said shoe having upstanding sides, and said anchoring means comprising internal pressed projections from the sides of the shoe and receiving said recesses.

7. A clamp comprising a band, a bearing at one end portion thereof, a screw directed through the bearing toward the other end portion, a shoe receiving the other end portion of the band, means to anchor such other end portion to the shoe, a nut opposite the shoe and receiving the screw, said other end portion being formed with a longitudinal series of recesses spaced in accordance with predetermined dimensions, and

said anchoring means comprising projections from the shoe receiving selected ones of said recesses according to the desired diameter of the band when formed into a substantially circular loop.

8. A clamp comprising a band, a bearing at one end portion thereof, a screw directed through the-bearing toward the other end portion, a shoe receiving the other end portion of the band, means to anchor such other end portion to the shoe, a nut opposite the shoe and receiving the screw, said other end portion being formed with a longitudinal series of recesses spaced in accordance with predetermined dimensions, said anchoring means comprising projections from the shoe receiving selected ones of said recesses according to the desired diameter of the band when formed into a substantially circular loop, and graduated markings on said other end portion and representing said dimensions.

9. A clamp comprising a. band, a bearing at one end portion thereof, a screw directed through the hearing I toward the other end portion, a shoe receiving the other end portion of the band, means to anchor such other end portion to the shoe, a nut opposite the shoe and receiving the screw, the shoe having a base and sides, said other end portion resting on the base of the shoe, and the base having acurvature conforming to that of the band When'the latter is looped in substantially-circular form.

10. A clamp comprising a band, a bearing at one end portion thereof, a screw directed through the bearing towardthe other end portion, a

receiving the other end portion of the band, means to anchor such other end portion to the shoe, a nut oppositethe' shoe and receiving the screw, the shoe having a base and sides,v said other end portion resting on the base of the shoe, the base having a curvature conforming to that of the band when the latter is looped in substantially-circular form, and the corner edges between the shoe base and sides being slotted to permit the independent, flexing of the base to V suit loops of diiferent diameters.

11. A clamp comprising a band, a bearing at one end portion thereof, a screw directed through the bearing toward the other end portion, a shoe receiving the other end portion of the band, means to anchor such other end portion to the shoe, a nut opposite the shoe and receiving the screw, and an end-piece for the shoe between the latter and the nut, the end piece having a recess to receive the screw.

12. A clamp comprising a band, a hearing at one end portion thereof, a screw directed through the bearing toward the other end portion, a shoe receiving the other end portion of the band, means to anchor such other end portion to the shoe, a nut opposite the shoe and receiving the screw, the shoe having a base and sides connected by an end-piece, and one end of the base being spaced from the bottoms of the sides and end-piece as an entrance for such other end portion to the shoe.

13. A clamp comprising a band, a bearing at one end portion thereof, a screw directed through the bearing toward the other end portion, a shoe receiving the other end portion of the band, means to anchor such other end portion to the shoe, a nut opposite the shoe and receiving the and the nut, said plate being perforated for the passage of the screw and having a bottom wing extending into said entrance at a height immediately above the path of said other end portion.

14. A clamp comprising a band, a hearing at one end portion thereof, a screw directed through the bearing toward the other end portion, a shoe receiving the other end portion of the band, means to anchor such other end portion to the shoe, a nut opposite the shoe and receiving the screw, the shoe having a base and sides connected by an end-piece, and a retainer plate between the end-piece and the nut, said plate being perforated for the passage of the screw and having means co-operating with the shoe sides to lock the retainer from turning relative to the shoe.

15. A clamp comprising a band, a bearing at one end portion thereof, a screw directed through the bearing toward the other end portion, a shoe receiving the other end portion of the band, means to anchor such other end portion to the from the bottoms of the sides and end-piece as shoe, a nut opposite the shoe andreceiving the screw, the shoe having a base and sides connected by an end-piece, and a retainer plate between the end-piece and the nut, said plate being perforated for the passage of the screw and having extensions overlapping with the shoe sides to lock the retainer from turning relative to the shoe.

16. A clamp comprising a band, abearing at one end portion thereof, a screw directed through the bearing toward the other end portion, a shoe receiving the other end portion of the band, means to anchor such other. end portion to the shoe, a nut opposite the shoe andreceiving the screw, the shoe having a. base and sides connected by an end-piece, and a retainer plate between the end-piece and the nut, said plate being perforated for the passage of the screw and having means co-operating with the nut to lock the latter from turning relative to the screw.

17. A clamp comprising'a band, a bearing at one end portion thereof, a screw directed through the bearing toward the other end portion, a shoe receiving the other end portion of the band, means to anchor such other end portion to the shoe, a nut opposite the shoe and receiving the screw, the shoe having a base and sides connected by an end-piece, and a, retainer plate between the end-piece and the nut, said plate being perforated for the passage of the screw and having a wing extended inwardly over one edge of the nut to lock the latter from turning on the screw.

W LL AM C. DUMKE. 

